Unit for marking and/or sampling animal tissue and corresponding marking and/or sampling tool

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a unit for marking and/or sampling animal tissue, including a male portion ( 12 ) for marking and/or sampling tissue, and a female portion ( 13 ) for marking and/or receiving said tissue. According to the invention, such a unit includes an intermediate element ( 14 ) for connecting said male and female portions together, said intermediate connection element ( 14 ) having a first portion ( 141 ) for rigidly connecting to said male portion and a second portion ( 192 ) for rigidly connecting to said female portion, enabling said male and female portions to be supported along a single marking and/or sampling axis (AA 1 ) before marking and/or sampling said animal tissue, wherein the intermediate connection element is releasable.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is that of the identifying and/or collectingof tissue from animals.

More specifically, the invention pertains to a novel unit for taggingand/or collecting tissue from an animal, making it possible especiallyto protect the male or female parts of a tagging and/or collectingdevice before they are used and to facilitate their installation on acorresponding tagging and/or collecting tool.

2. PRIOR ART

The identification of livestock has been compulsory in many countries inorder to ensure the tracking of livestock and guarantee the origin ofanimals intended especially for consumption.

Thus, in order to ensure its traceability, an animal is classicallyidentified by means of a visual and/or electronic marking device alsocalled a tag. Such a tag is made by a male tagging portion and a femaletagging portion designed to be irreversibly associated.

For example, in the context of animal identification, the male partcomprises a rod which extends from a support designed to rest on asurface of the animal's ear. The end of the rod terminates in a conicalor truncated conical tip, also called a head, demarcating an externalshoulder enabling the tip to be held in a cavity for receiving thefemale part. Such a tip is used to perforate the animal's ear before themale part and the female part are associated.

There is also a known way of collecting animal tissue when applying atag or else independently of the applying of the tag.

For example, when this collecting is done while applying a tag, the tipcan be truncated and enable the passage of a biopsy needle type ofcollecting element. In one variant, a punch type of collecting elementcan be provided at the end of the truncated tip.

When this collecting is done independently of the applying of the tag, apunch type of collecting element can be fixed to a collecting tool suchas a set of pliers for example.

In all these applications (the marking or tagging of the animal and/orthe collecting of tissues from the animal), several elements have to behandled in order to be able to apply the tag or collect a sample oftissue.

Thus, to place a tag on an animal, it is necessary to mount the maletagging part on a first arm of a tagging tool, mount the female taggingpart on a second arm of the tagging tool, and if necessary dip the unitin disinfectant before the tagging operation can be performed.

To collect a sample of animal tissue and simultaneously place a tag, itis necessary to mount the male tagging and collecting part (comprising arod and a collecting element) on a first arm of a tagging and collectingtool, mount the female tagging and tissue-receiving part on a second armof the tagging and collecting tool, and if necessary dip the unit indisinfectant before the tagging and collecting operations can beperformed.

To collect a sample of animal tissue without simultaneously placing atag, it is necessary to mount the male collecting part (comprising acollecting element) on a first arm of the collecting tool, mount thefemale tissue-receiving part on a second arm of the collecting tool, andif necessary dip the unit in a disinfectant before the collectingoperation can be performed.

These operations for mounting different elements on the tagging and/orcollecting tool are painstaking for the user.

There is therefore a risk that an element to be mounted on the tool mayget dropped and either get lost or be contaminated by the externalenvironment (through dust, moisture, bacteria, etc).

In addition, there is an increased risk that the user might get injuredduring the handling of these different elements, especially the handlingof the collecting element or the tip of the male part.

There is therefore a need for a novel packaging of these elements whichwould simplify their assembly.

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes a novel solution in the form of a unit fortagging and/or collecting tissue from an animal comprising:

-   -   a male part for tagging and/or collecting tissue,    -   a female part for tagging and/or receiving said tissue.

According to the invention, such unit comprises an intermediate linkingelement between the male and female parts, said intermediate linkingelement having a first portion for joining to said male part and asecond portion for joining to said female part enabling said male andfemale parts to be held in a same tagging and/or collecting axis, priorto the tagging and/or collecting of tissue from said animal, saidintermediate linking element being removable. In particular, the firstjoining portion comprises at least one housing receiving at leastpartially the male part. The invention thus proposes a “one-piece”assembly in which the male part for tagging and/or collecting tissue andthe female part for tagging and/or receiving tissue are held coaxiallyprior to the operation of being mounted on a tagging and/or collectingtool.

In other words, the male part, the intermediate linking part and thefemale part have a same axis which extends in only one direction (whichmay be slightly curved). The intermediate linking element thereforeoffers a rigid link providing for alignment between the male and femaleparts.

The use of an intermediate linking element according to the inventionhas numerous advantages.

First of all, the intermediate linking element enables the male part andthe corresponding female part to be held together prior to theidentification and/or collection of the animal tissue. In this way, theintermediate linking part facilitates the transportation and handling ofthe male and female parts. In addition, the risks of error that mayarise in using a male part and a female part that do not correspond toit (that do not have the same identifier for example) are reduced.Finally, the pre-assembly (in the mounting position) of the male andfemale parts simplifies the mounting of the different elements on thetagging and/or collecting tool since it is only the one-piece assemblythat has to be handled.

Besides, the intermediate linking element enables the male and/or femaleparts to be protected. In particular, this linking element protects thetip or the collecting element from the external environment (dust,moisture, bacteria, etc). In particular, it protects the tip or thecollecting element (especially its cutting edge) against deteriorationand fouling. Thus, a high quality of perforation by the tip or ofcutting by the collecting element is maintained. Furthermore, the use ofsuch an intermediate linking element prevents the user from gettinginjured during the handling of the tip or the collecting element.

To this end, in a first aspect, the first joining portion covers atleast one tip and/or the end of a collecting element of the male part.

For example, the housing or housings of the first joining portion atleast partially receive the tip and/or the collecting element, the inputhole of the housing comprising at least one ledge enabling the tipand/or the collecting element to be held in the intermediate linkingelement.

Thus, the male part can be fitted into the intermediate linking elementto join the male tagging and/or collecting part and the intermediatelinking element. It is also possible to protect the tip and/or thecollecting element during handling operations prior to the taggingand/or collecting through the intermediate linking element and then (byhand or automatically) withdraw the intermediate linking element oncethe male part and the female part are mounted on the tagging and/orcollecting tool.

According to a second aspect, the second joining portion is insertedinto a collecting tube and/or a receiving cavity of the female part.

Thus, the intermediate linking element can be fitted into the femaletagging and/or receiving part to join the female part and theintermediate linking element. This also protects the female part, inpreventing foreign bodies from getting housed in the receiving cavity orin the collecting tube of the female part. It is thus not necessary toclose a tube of this kind with a lid prior to the collecting operation.

To this end, according to one particular embodiment, the second joiningportion is cylindrical and has a diameter slightly smaller than thediameter of the collecting tube and/or the receiving cavity of thefemale part.

According to one variant, the second joining portion covers the open endof a collecting tube or a tube head.

According to this variant, pertaining more specifically to thecollecting operations, a tube or a tube head can be nested into theintermediate linking element to join the female collecting part and theintermediate linking part.

Advantageously, the male part, the intermediate linking part and thefemale part have a shape generated by revolution around a same axis ofrevolution.

According to another aspect, the intermediate linking part is at leastpartially deformable.

In this way, it is easier to put it in place during the manufacturing ofthe unit and to remove it before the tagging and/or collectingoperation.

For example, the intermediate linking element is made out of a slightlydeformable plastic material such as polypropylene (PP), polystyrene(PS), polyethylene (PE) or else again a biodegradable plastic such aspolylactide (PLA) or starch (PCL). It can be noted that the geometry ofthe intermediate linking element can be adapted in order to facilitateits deformation.

According to one particular embodiment, the intermediate linking elementis a set of pliers comprising at least one moving part.

The male and female parts are then held together by the moving parts ofthe pliers.

In particular, a set of pliers of this kind comprises grasping meansforming a lever enabling the moving part or parts of the pliers to beactuated.

It is thus easy to handle the unit, install it on the tagging and/orcollecting tool and detach the male and female parts through thesegrasping means.

Advantageously, the intermediate linking part contains a specific agentto be applied at least partially to the male part and/or to the femalepart such as: a disinfectant, a cicatrizing agent, a preserving agent, adesiccant, a medicine, a vaccine, a combination of at least two of theforegoing agents.

Thus, for example, the tip or the collecting element of the male part isin contact with the disinfectant or antiseptic when it is housed in theintermediate linking element. In addition to protecting the user fromthe tip or the cutting edge of the collecting element, this aspectdisinfects the male part before use, thus reducing the risk ofcontamination of the animal's wound and enabling improved healing.

In particular, an agent of this kind may take different forms such as agel, a cream, a grease, a liquid, a powder, a gas, an impregnated foam,etc.

The invention also pertains to a tool for tagging and/or collectingtissue from an animal, provided in order to cooperate with a unit asdescribed here above.

According to the invention, such a tool comprises means for disjoiningsaid male part and said female part.

Thus, once the unit is mounted on one of the arms by means of the malepart or the female part, the tool according to the invention enables theother part on the other arm to be “retrieved” without the user's havingto handle the unit.

According to one particular embodiment, the means for disjoining (ordetaching or disconnecting) comprise means for locking said female partto said tool enabling said unit to be fixedly joined to said tool.

For example, these locking means are means of a type such as a lockring, a translating element, a pedal, etc.

According to this particular embodiment, the disjoining means alsocomprise hooking means activated by action on said tool, enabling saidmale part to be fixedly joined to said tool and enabling said male partto be disjoined from said intermediate linking tool or said female part.

For example, these hooking means are clamping, clip-on and other typesof means.

Thus, in a first stage, the unit is mounted on an arm of the tool and,in a second stage, the tool is actuated enabling the male and femaleparts to be disjoined.

According to another characteristic, the tool comprises means forejecting the intermediate linking element.

In this way, the user does not have to handle the intermediate linkingelement, thus again preventing the risk of injury or of contamination ofthe tip or the collecting element.

4. LIST OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention shall appear more clearlyfrom the following description of a particular embodiment, given as asimple illustratory and non-exhaustive example and from the appendedfigures, of which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate a first example of a unit according to theinvention that can be used to tag or mark an animal;

FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate a second example of a unit according to theinvention that can be used to tag an animal and simultaneously collect asample of animal tissue.

FIGS. 3A to 3C illustrate a third example of a unit according to theinvention that can be used to collect a sample of animal tissueindependently of the applying of an identification tag;

FIGS. 4A to 4C show different positions of a collecting tool during themounting of the male and female parts of the unit on the tool;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate another example of a tagging and collectingtool.

5. DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 5.1 General Principle

The general principle of the invention relies on the use of anintermediate linking element enabling a male part for tagging and/orcollecting tissue to be joined to a female part for tagging and/orreceiving tissue, prior to the tagging and/or collecting operations.

In this way, the handling, transportation, etc of the male and femaleparts and their mounting on a tagging and/or collecting tool arefacilitated.

More specifically, an intermediate linking element of this kind providesfor a rigid or semi-rigid link between the male and female parts andtherefore maintains these male and female parts in a same alignment.

Here and here below, the term “male part” is understood to mean:

-   -   a male part formed by a rod extending from a support and        terminating in a tip if the context is one of animal tagging        (the applying of a visual and/or electronic tag),    -   a biopsy needle type or punch type collecting element if the        context is one of the collecting of animal tissue (collecting        done independently of the applying of a visual and/or electronic        tag),    -   a male part comprising a rod extending from a support and        comprising a biopsy needle type or punch type collecting element        if the context is one of tagging and collecting animal tissue        (collecting done jointly with the applying of a visual and/or        electronic tag);        and the term “female part” is understood to mean:    -   a female part comprising a receiving cavity if the context is        one of animal tagging,    -   a collecting tube if the context is one of the collecting of        animal tissue,    -   a female part comprising a receiving cavity and/or a collecting        tube if the context is one of tagging and collecting animal        tissue.

5.2 Application to Animal Tagging

Here below, referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, we refer to a first example ofa unit 11 according to the invention that can be used in the context ofanimal tagging (applying a visual and/or electronic tag).

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, such a unit 11 comprises a male part 12, afemale part 13 and an intermediate linking part 14.

The male part 12 and female part 13 are classic.

For example, the male part 12 has a rod 121 extending from a markingsupport 122. The rod 121 is terminated by a conical or truncated conicaltip 123 (also called a head) demarcating an external shoulder 124 at itsbase. The tip 123 is used to perforate the animal's skin before the malepart 12 is associated with the female part 13.

The female part 13 for its part has a receiving button 131 with a cavity132 for the introduction of the tip 123 of the rod 121. Strips 134 areprovided at the inlet orifice of the cavity 132 enabling the tip 123 topass in one sense in order to insert the tip 123 of the male part intothe cavity 132 and prevent it from being extracted in the other sense.

The base of the female part also forms a marking support 133.

According to the invention, the male part 12 and the female part 13 areheld coaxially along the tagging axis AA′ through the intermediatelinking element 14. In other words, the intermediate linking elementenables the male part 12 and the female part 13 to be joined so that theaxis of revolution of the rod 121 and the axis of revolution of thereceiving cavity 132 coincide.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the intermediate linkingelement 14 has a first portion 141 for joining to the male part 12 and asecond portion 142 for joining to the female part 13 enabling the maleand female parts to be held together prior to the tagging of the animal.

According to this example, and as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the firstjoining portion 141 covers the tip 123 of the male part 12. Morespecifically, the first joining portion 141 defines a housing having ashape suited to receiving the tip 123. The internal diameter of thehousing is therefore slightly greater than that of the base of the tip123 (corresponding to the widest part of the tip) so that it canpenetrate the housing. Furthermore, the inlet hole of the housingcomprises at least one inner ledge 1411 enabling the tip 123 to be heldin the intermediate linking element 14, the shoulder 124 of the tip 123abutting the inner ledge 1411 when the tip 123 is inserted in theintermediate linking element. In this way, the linking element protectsthe tip from the external environment (dust, moisture, bacteria, etc).

The second joining portion 142 for its part is inserted into thereceiving cavity 132 of the female part 13. More specifically, thesecond joining portion 142 has a shape adapted to cooperating with thereceiving cavity 132. It is for example cylindrical and has a diameterslightly smaller than the diameter of the receiving cavity 132 of thefemale part. It also has at least one outer ledge 1421 used to hold theintermediate linking part 14 in the cavity of the female part, thestrips 134 of the female part taking support on the outer ledge 1421 tohold the intermediate linking element 14 in the female part.Advantageously, the diameter of the base of the tip 123 is greater thanthe diameter of the outer ledge 1421 of the second joining portion 1421so as not to cause deterioration in the strips 134 during the withdrawalof the intermediate joining element 14 from the female part.

The intermediate linking part 14 or the inner ledge 1411 and outer ledge1421 can be made out of a slightly deformable material such aspolypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, in order to facilitate theinsertion and the withdrawal of the male part 12 into and from the firstjoining section 141 and the insertion and withdrawal of the secondjoining section 142 into and from the female part 13. The intermediatelinking element 14 must also be rigid enough to hold the male part andthe female part coaxially, especially during the transportation of theunit and its positioning on the tagging tool.

It may be recalled that the intermediate linking element 14 isremovable. It can therefore be withdrawn just before the operation fortagging the animal. It is then necessary to exert a slight force torelease the male part 12 and female part 13 from the linking element 14.

More advantageously, a specific agent is provided within theintermediate linking element 14. It may be a disinfectant, a cicatrizingagent, a medicine, a vaccine, etc. Such an agent thus makes it possibleto at least partially destroy the microorganisms (bacteria, viruses,etc) that might cause infection in the tissues perforated during thetagging or to heal or treat the animal if need be, this agent beingcapable of passing into the blood at the perforated tissues or beingabsorbed by the animal's skin.

In particular, a specific agent of this kind may take different formssuch as a gel, a cream, a grease, a liquid, a powder, a gas, animpregnated foam, etc. possibly contained in a reservoir or closed by alid which will be pierced by the tip of the male part.

5.3 Application to Collection Combined with Tagging

Here below, referring to FIGS. 2A to 2D, we describe a second example ofa unit 21 according to the invention that can be used in a context oftagging and collecting animal tissue.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, a unit 21 of this kind has a male part 22, afemale part 13 and an intermediate linking part 14.

According to this example, the male part 22 has a rod 221 extending froma marking support 222. The rod 221 is terminated by a conical ortruncated conical tip 23 that is truncated, demarcating an externalshoulder 224 at its base. The rod 223 enables the passage of an elementfor collecting animal tissue such as a biopsy needle 225 or a punch.

The female part 13 can be similar to the female part described withreference to FIGS. 1A and 1B.

According to the invention, the male part 22 and the female part 13 areheld coaxially along the tagging and collecting axis AA′ through theintermediate linking element 14. In other words, the intermediatelinking element enables the male part 22 and female part 13 to be joinedso that the axis of revolution of the rod 221 and the axis of revolutionof the receiving cavity 132 coincide.

The intermediate linking element 14 is similar to the one described withreference to FIGS. 1A to 1C. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS.1B and 1C, the first joining portion 141 covers the truncated tip 223 ofthe male part 22 and the end of the collecting element 225. The firstjoining portion 141 herein defines a housing with a shape appropriate toreceiving the tip 223 and the end of the collecting element 225.

Thus, the intermediate linking element 14 protects the tip and thecollecting element against deterioration and fouling. Thus, theinvention preserves high quality of cutting by the cutting edge of thecollecting element.

As indicated here above, a specific agent can be provided within theintermediate linking element 14. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, thecutting edge of the collecting element can be in contact with adisinfectant, cicatrizing agent, etc. before the collecting operation.

In a context of tagging and collecting, such an agent can also be apreserving agent or desiccant making it possible to improve thepreservation of a sample of tissue to be collected and possibly toprepare it with a view to subsequent treatment such as DNA analysis.

In other words, the specific agent according to the invention can takethe form of any product capable of acting on the animal or on a sampleof tissue collected from the animal.

5.4 Application to Collecting

Here below, referring to FIGS. 3A to 3C, we describe a third example ofa unit 31 according to the invention which can be used in a context ofcollecting animal tissue (implemented independently of the applying of avisual and/or electronic tag).

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, a unit 31 of this kind has a male part 32comprising a collecting element, a female part 33 comprising acollecting tube and an intermediate linking element 34.

For example, the collecting element comprises a cutting element 321designed to cut a sample of tissue from the animal and a pushing element322 that is movable relatively to the cutting element 321, enabling thesample to be pushed into a collecting tube 33 after the sample has beencut out by the cutting element 321.

The collecting tube 33 for its part is equipped with a tube head 331. Inparticular, a tube head of this kind provides a support on which thecutting element 321 can press in order to accurately cut the animal'stissues. It also enables the closing of the tube, for example by fittingor clipping the pushing element 322 and/or the cutting element 321 intothe tube head 331, as well as enabling the automation of the opening ofthe tubes by the analysis laboratories, in opening the tube head so thatthe sample remains inside the tube.

A collecting element and a collecting tube according to this thirdexample are described especially in the French patent application FR 2939 281 filed on behalf of the present Applicant.

According to the invention, the male part (the collecting element) 32and the female part (the collecting tube) 33 are held coaxially alongthe collecting axis AA′, through the intermediate linking element 34. Inother words, the intermediate linking element enables the male part 32and female part 33 to be joined so that the axis of revolution of thecollecting element 32 and the axis of revolution of the collecting tube33 coincide.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the intermediate linkingelement 34 has a first portion 341 for joining to the male part 32 and asecond portion 342 for joining to the female part 33 enabling the maleand female parts to be held together preliminarily to the collection ofanimal tissue.

According to this example, and as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the firstjoining portion 341 covers the cutting element 321 of the male part 32.More specifically, the first joining portion 341 defines a housinghaving a shape suited to receiving the cutting element 321 and, ifnecessary, a part of its support 3211.

The second joining portion 342 for its part covers the open end of thecollecting tube 33 or of the tube head 331. According to the exampleillustrated, the second joining portion 342 defines a housing with ashape adapted to receiving the tube head 331. If the tube head isprovided with a collar 3311, the second joining portion can be providedwith a recess to receive this collar.

In particular, according to this third example, the intermediate linkingelement 34 is a set of pliers comprising two moving parts 342 andgrasping means 344. More specifically, the grasping means form a leverused to actuate the moving parts of the pliers. Thus, action by a useron the grasping means 344 make it possible to move the two moving parts343 away from the pliers. It is then possible to introduce the male part32 and the female part 33 between the moving parts 343. When the userrelaxes his action, the moving parts get tightened, thus making itpossible to hold the male part 32 and the female part 33 together alongthe collecting axis AA′. For example, each moving part takes the form ofa hollow semi-cylinder, the closing of the pliers defining a cylinder atleast partially encapsulating the cutting element 321 and the tube head331.

According to this third example, the intermediate linking element 34 canbe made out of a plastic such as polypropylene, polystyrene,polyethylene or else again out of a biodegradable plastic material.

Advantageously, a specific agent is provided inside the intermediatelinking element 34. It may be a disinfectant, a cicatrizing agent, apreserving agent, a desiccant, a medicine, a vaccine, a combination ofat least two of the above agents, etc.

For example, the specific agent is a disinfectant, impregnating a foam345. When the clamp 34 is closed on the male part 32 and female part 33,the foam is slightly compressed and releases a disinfectant,disinfecting the cutting edge of the cutting element 321 and the inlethole of the tube head 331.

5.5 Positioning the Unit on a Tagging and/or Collecting Tool

As already indicated, in addition to improving the safety and quality ofpiercing by the tip or of the cutting by the collecting element, the useof a unit according to the invention simplifies the delivery andhandling of the male and female parts as well as their positioning on atagging and/or collecting tool.

Here below, referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, we present the different stepsimplemented for the positioning of the male and female parts on acollecting tool. Naturally, similar operations can be implemented forpositioning on a tagging or marking tool.

For example, such a tool has a fixed part also called a body 41 definingespecially a first handle and a hinged part also called a lever 42defining a second handle.

The body 41 of the tool also defines two arms, of which a first arm 411is to cooperate with the male part 32 and a second arm 412 that is tocooperate with the female part 33 as illustrated in FIG. 3A for example.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the user mounts the“one-piece” unit 31 according to the invention on the second arm 412during a first step. It may be recalled that this unit 31 has a malepart 32 formed by a collecting element, an intermediate linking part 34and a female part 33, formed by a collecting tube comprising a tube head31, held together along the collecting axis AA′.

To this end, the second arm 412 comprises means for locking thecollecting tube 33, such as a lock ring 43 for example, enabling theunit 31 to be fixedly joined to the tool.

The male part 32, the intermediate linking part 34 and the female part33 are then fixedly joined to the second arm 412 of the tool.

In order to separate the male part 32 and female part 33, a first actioncan be exerted on the collecting tool, for example on a reduced range oftravel of the lever 42. In other words, the user can exert slightpressure on the lever 42 to disconnect the male part 32 and female part33 and “set” the collecting tool. It can be noted that the tool can beactuated by hand or by means of electrical or pneumatic power or thelike.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, action on the lever 42 drives first drivingmeans 4111. For example, these first driving means take the form of ashaft guided in translation or in rotation along the collecting axisAA′.

Such a shaft 4111 comprises hooking means used to join the male part 32to the shaft. The shaft thus retrieves the male part 32, for example bya gripping or clip-on effect.

For example, the shaft comprises a section with a diameter slightlysmaller than the inner diameter of the collecting element or of asupport of the collecting element. This section with the smallerdiameter can thus get inserted by force into the collecting element, atits base (its end opposite the cutting edge) to fixedly join the malepart to the tool.

According to another example, the shaft comprises a portion which canexpand to grip the base of the male part. As illustrated in FIG. 4C,when the user relaxes the pressure on the lever 42 for example, theshaft 4111 returns to its initial position, driving the male part 32with it and possibly the intermediate linking element 34. In addition tofixedly joining the male part 32 to the shaft, the hooking means thusenable the male part 32 to be detached from the intermediate linkingpart 34 or the female part 33.

The male part 32 and female part 33 are then both mounted on thecollecting tool without the user's having had to handle the collectingelement 33.

The user can then withdraw the intermediate linking element 34 whichenables the cutting edge of the collecting element to be protected (interms of safety for the user and in terms of quality for the cuttingedge) in pushing on the lever-forming grasping means 344 for example, orin actuating means for ejecting the intermediate linking elementprovided on the tool.

For example, ejection means of this kind take the form of an independentfork-shaped lever enabling the intermediate linking element to be pushedor withdrawn and extracted from the male or female part on which it isstill positioned.

The intermediate linking element 34 can then be discarded or kept sothat it can, for example, be repositioned on the collecting elementafter the collecting operation. Such a linking element can be designedout of a biodegradable material such as polylactide (PLA) or starch(PCL).

The male part 32 and the female part 33 are then mounted respectively oneach of the arms of the collecting tool, and the collecting tool isready for the collecting operation.

A preliminary setting operation of this kind can be implemented by acollecting tool as described in the French patent application No.1054563 filed on behalf of the present Applicant.

Naturally, similar operations can be implemented for a positioning onanother tool such as the tagging and collecting tool illustrated in FIG.5B for example.

In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the unit 51 comprises a malepart 52 and an intermediate linking part 54 and a female part 53 heldtogether along an axis BB′ that is slightly curved to follow the taggingand collecting axis defined by the rotation of the arms of the tool.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A unit for tagging and/or collecting tissuefrom an animal comprising: a male part for tagging and/or collectingtissue; a female part for tagging and/or receiving said tissue; and anintermediate linking element between said male and female parts; whereinsaid intermediate linking element comprises a first joining portion forjoining to said male part and a second joining portion for joining tosaid female part enabling said male and female parts to be held togetherin a same tagging and/or collecting axis prior to the tagging and/orcollecting of tissue; wherein said first joining portion comprises atleast one housing at least partially receiving one of either a tip or anend of a collecting element of said male part; wherein said intermediatelinking element is configured to be removed from said male part and fromsaid female part prior to the tagging and/or collecting of tissue; andwherein said intermediate linking element is a set of pliers.
 2. Theunit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one housing comprisesan input hole, where the input hole of said housing comprises at leastone ledge enabling said tip and/or said collecting element to be held insaid intermediate linking element.
 3. The unit according to claim 1,wherein said second joining portion is inserted into a collecting tube.4. The unit according to claim 3, wherein said second joining portion isconfigured to cover an open end of the collecting tube.
 5. The unitaccording to claim 1, wherein said intermediate linking element containsa specific agent to be applied at least partially to said male partand/or to said female part.
 6. The unit according to claim 5, whereinthe specific agent is selected from the group consisting of adisinfectant, a cicatrizing agent, a preserving agent, a desiccant, amedicine, and a vaccine.
 7. The unit of claim 1, further comprising atool for tagging and/or collecting tissue from an animal, wherein saidtool comprises means for disjoining said male part and said female part.8. The unit of claim 7, wherein said means for disjoining comprisesmeans for locking said female part to said tool, enabling said unit tobe fixedly joined to said tool.
 9. The unit of claim 7, wherein saiddisjoining means comprises hooking means activated by action on saidtool, enabling said male part to be fixedly joined to said tool andenabling said male part to be disjoined from said intermediate linkingelement or said female part.
 10. The unit of claim 7, further comprisingmeans for ejecting said intermediate linking element.
 11. The unitaccording to claim 1, wherein said second joining portion is insertedinto a receiving cavity of said female part.
 12. The unit of claim 1,wherein the set of pliers further comprises at least one moving part.13. The unit according to claim 12, wherein said pliers comprise meansenabling the at least one moving part to be actuated.